December 12, 2010

Old Dawdls & Postal Trust

Recently the Dawdlr site was updated. Reminded me a while back I sent a few while I was in a few different places. Sure enough, there they were.

I love the use of an old system, the mail, to connect a bunch of disconnected people who are just doing something for a bit of curiosity.

It also makes me think about how exraordinary the postal system is. While not instantaneous, it certainly has a low margin of failure. Few bouncebacks and it requires very little mental bandwidth to operate. Except for the actual creating what to post.

But, it is interesting how we have moved away from the simplicity of the system and faith in its operation (yes, because we didn't have much choise) to a mentality of trackability. Needing to know where everything is. Place an order, follow an order. Multi-step affirmations evertyghing is on track. When given a FedEx tracking number not to be. But is this distrust of the system or a need to know everything is okay driven by the neurotic gene (I know I have it.) Kind of reminds me of Homer's everything is okay alarm.

On one hand a sign we are sending ever more precious goods to ourselves or others. Alternatively a giant waste of mental capacity. In an era of trasnparency what if your tracking number only alerted you when something wasn't okay. A flight delayed, logistical mix up, or traffic the morning of 9am delivery. That would be a trust worthy system.